In the Path of danger

A Pilot for Life

After Karl Hoerig's active duty military career, he went to serve in the Air Force Reserve and worked a commercial pilot, flying for Southwest Airlines.

Credit: Frances Hoerig

An Unbreakable Bond

Some of Karl Hoerig's best friends were a group of pilots also in the Air Force Reserve.They were sometimes deployed around the world together and formed a tight bond. From left: Daniel Henry, Gary Dodge, Karl Hoerig, John Boccieri, and Chris Swegan.

Credit: Chris Swegan

Precious Family Time

Karl Hoerig and his first wife, Rhonda, had two children together, Eva and Brent. Eva Snowden has fond memories of her dad from her childhood. Hoerig was often deployed elsewhere, but Snowden says she and her brother would value the time their dad was home in Ohio all the more.

Credit: Frances Hoerig

Soon-to-be Grandfather

Though her parents divorced while she was young, Eva Snowden says their family always remained close. "Even though we weren't all living together, we were still all together, you know?" she says.

In the months before her father's death, Eva found out she was pregnant, and says Karl was excited to be a grandfather.

Credit: Eva Snowden

A New Love

In 2005, Karl Hoerig met a Brazilian accountant and English teacher, Claudia Sobral, who was living in New York City at the time. They fell in love quickly and were married in Las Vegas that June. Claudia moved to Newton Falls, Ohio, to be with Karl.

Credit: Paul Hoerig

A Troubled Relationship

Karl's younger brother, Paul Hoerig, says that Karl and Claudia's relationship seemed fine in the beginning, but became rocky over time. By early 2007, Karl began to talk about leaving Claudia. "He could see that she was basically dragging him down," says Paul.

Claudia's behavior, said Karl's family and friends, was becoming increasingly erratic.

Credit: Paul Hoerig

Shot at Close Range

On March 15, 2007, after not showing up for duty with the Air Force Reserve, Karl Hoerig's body was found at the bottom of these stairs in the home that he shared wit Claudia. It was believed that he had been shot a few days before -- once in the head and twice in the back.

Authorities immediately suspected Claudia Hoerig, but she was nowhere to be found.

Credit: CBS News

Where's Claudia?

Investigators soon discovered that Claudia Hoerig had flown to her native country of Brazil three days before Karl's body was found – right around the presumed time of his death. Karl's friends and family say that solidified their suspicions. "I knew it was her," says Paul Hoerig. "She told us a story about how Brazil… that basically they just don't extradite." A month after Karl's death, Claudia was charged with aggravated murder and a warrant was issued for her arrest in Trumbull County, Ohio.

Credit: Paul Hoerig

A Brother's Journey

It's been over 10 years since Claudia Sobral Hoerig flew to Brazil, and 10 years of Paul Hoerig pushing for justice in his brother Karl's death.

Due to laws restricting the extradition of Brazilian-born citizens, Claudia's fight against being sent back to the United States became a complicated, landmark legal case in Brazil. But by late 2017, the tides had shifted. Paul is now relieved that he will see Claudia in front of a Trumbull County, Ohio, jury soon. "We'll be ready for the trial when it gets here," he says.